Arsenal 'leading race' for £60m wonderkid as squad rebuild beckons: report

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Burnley FC at Emirates Stadium on November 11, 2023 in London, England.
(Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal are said to be "leading the race" for a highly-rated young star.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is said to be eyeing a potential rebuild this summer, with the likes of Emile Smith Rowe, Reiss Nelson, Fabio Vieira and Eddie Nketiah all touted for potential exits.

And despite being hampered over what they can do in the transfer market this month, there are murmurings of being incomings for Arsenal

Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe during a training session at London Colney on October 20, 2023 in St Albans, England.

There could be big exits at Arsenal (Image credit: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

According to Football365 (via Sports Witness), Arsenal are said to competing with Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Barcelona for 20-year-old Xavi Simons.

Having joined Eredivisie side PSV from Paris Saint-Germain back in July 2022, the French champions then opted to trigger their buy-back clause for just a mere €4 million. Simons, currently on loan with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, has so far scored six goals and registered nine assists in Germany this season, across all competitions.

Already capped 11 times at international level too, Simons is unlikely to move this month, with Marco Rose's side battling out for a UEFA Champions League qualification place. Having already been asked about his future beyond this season, the midfielder is keeping tight-lipped on the situation for now.

“My future at PSG? I'm happy at Leipzig; it's been an exciting season," Simons told French media back in October 2023.

Netherlands international Xavi Simons is currently on loan at Bundesliga side RB Leipzig from PSG.

Netherlands international Xavi Simons is wanted by Arsenal (Image credit: Getty Images)

Arsenal are unable to go big in the January window according to recent reports, having spent upwards of £150million in the summer on both Declan Rice and Kai Havertz. Arteta's side have slumped to fourth in the Premier League table over recent weeks and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Liverpool earlier this month.

Any potential move for Brentford forward Ivan Toney has been quickly dismissed, with the England international now back in the fold following the completion of his recent eight-month ban from football.

In an attempt to balance the books ahead of next summer, the Gunners are said to be keen on shifting several first-team players, with Aaron Ramsdale another whose future remains unclear at present.

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Matthew Holt

Matthew is a Freelance Journalist and has racked up bylines for Manchester United, Manchester Evening News, GOAL and SPORTbible to name a few. A long-term sufferer of Scunthorpe United, he currently resides in the north-west after escaping the smog of North Lincolnshire.